Stocks end almost flat after bumpy ride

Stocks ended almost flat on Wednesday, with turnover crossing Tk 15 billion-mark, as investors were active on both sides of the trading fence.

Following the previous day’s steep rise, the market opened on a positive note and the key index rose 37 points within the first 15 minutes of trading. But, the rest of the session went down amid modest volatility.

DSEX, the benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), went up by 4.19 points or 0.05 per cent to settle at 7,060, after soaring over 115 points in the previous day.

However, two other indices edged lower. The DSE 30 Index, comprising blue chips, dropped 7.96 points to finish at 2,683 and the DSE Shariah Index (DSES) also saw a fractional loss of 0.67 points to close at 1,484.

Turnover, a crucial indicator of the market, also rose to Tk 15.07 billion, which was 1.08 per cent higher than the previous day’s tally of Tk 14.91 billion.

Losers took a modest lead over the gainers, as out of 366 issues traded, 177 declined, 152 advanced and 37 remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor.

IFIC Bank was the most traded stock with shares worth Tk 1.20 billion changing hands, closely followed by Beximco (Tk 1.15 billion),  Delta Brac Housing Finance (Tk 657 million), Orion Pharma (Tk 621 million), and NRB Commercial Bank (Tk 571 million).

Express Insurance was the day’s top gainer, rising 9.90 per cent while IFIL Islamic Mutual Fund-1 was the worst lower, losing 5.97 per cent.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also edged with the CSE All Share Price Index – CASPI –gaining 3.75 points to settle at 20,642 and the Selective Categories Index – CSCX, rising 2.97 points to close at 12,410.

Of the issues traded, 128 advanced, 127 declined and 34 remained unchanged on the CSE.

The port city’s bourse traded 18.08 million shares and mutual fund units with a turnover value of Tk 553 million.

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